QuoteReplyTopic: Late bloomers - Best success late in the career? Posted: September 17 2013 at 23:29

I am curious about late bloomers. As I have observed very often it is mostly in the beginning time of a band's career that they land their most successful songs or albums.

I would like to know which band - in your experience - started to have their biggest success (best albums/best songs) rather late in their career? Please consider bands that that are at least 15-20 years in business.

Even though I liked Unfolded Like Staircase better personally, Discipline's most recent album is a ridiculously good release, especially considering it was released 14 years after its predecessor and 17 after their first album.

Some artists who have created one or more of their best albums later in their career (imho):

Kate Bush released her best album 33 years after her debut.
echolyn have released good albums throughout their career, but their second self-titled album is one of the greatest 21st century masterpieces.
The last studio album of Rush is quite at level with their great albums from the 1977-1982 period: a second bloom.

I think the latest two Pendragon albums are their best. (Others disagree!)

I've just bought the entire Pendragon discography and the last two albums are indeed excellent if rather different. But The Masquerade Overture is sensational and so is Not of This World, so they've been doing it for ages.

I'd make a case for Camel - whilst their first 5 albums are magnificent, as are one or two in the 80s, Andy Latimer came back after 30 years with a new band and recorded two absolutely remarkable albums which are up with the best.

Not on PA, but borderline prog in my opinion (somewhere between post punk and RIO), the Dutch band The Ex has been around since the 80s, and though they've had a lot of lineup changes over the years, their creative trajectory has been one of consistent improvement, sophistication, and refinement. I have not heard all their albums, but I have a few albums from all different phases of their career, and I think their last two, released in the past couple of years, may be their best.

My other avatar is a Porsche

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased.

Isn't that interesting? When I go through my collection almost every band has produced their strongest material in the beginning of their career. To find the opposite it actually takes some research effort.

So far I think Big Big Train seems to be among the suggestions that I find resonating as one of the most iconic examples.

I reckon this is not much different when we look beyond the boundaries of prog rock...

I think Hackett reached a plateau he has not come down from in the late 90s and is still going strong. Vangelis' 90s output is also his best.

Voices and El Greco are great and might well be my favourite Vangelis albums although Mask (80's) and Heaven and Hell (70,s) are also very strong contenders. Vangelis has had a wonderful career spanning 5 decades.

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